THE THOUGHT CATALOGUE

​I used to think there was a reason why the universe kept expanding beyond our outreach. Maybe we weren't supposed to travel its lengths or delve into its deepest and darkest secrets. But then I realised: we humans did not believe in barriers restraining us. For us, the word boundary did not mean a line limiting us of something. Instead, it meant a line that no one had ever crossed before, and must now be crossed. We may not see it, but we are the only ones who can do that. What makes us unique from other living beings is our ability to think; our unquenchable thirst of curiosity. It doesn't matter if life existed on Earth simply because the conditions were suitable. Perhaps our existence was a coincidence. But while that coincidence lasts, it wouldn't hurt to make optimum use of it. Even if our technology limits us to how much further we can go, I'm sure it won't stop us from trying to reach the end.

There might be a cage entrapping us on purpose, barring us from learning that which is beyond our comprehension. But like every bird, we humans have a natural instinct inbuilt in us. A strive to break the cage. To explore new places, stretch ourselves beyond our capabilities, and to not only reach that boundary, but surpass it. And why won't we? Outside that line of confinement is where freedom lies. A place of infinite possibilities, where the unknown can finally be known. Centuries ago, people were prohibited from thinking about the origin of mankind. "Think out of the box" wasn't a generally accepted phrase at that time. But they had failed to apprehend that our thoughts are like rivers. If you prevent them from flowing, they'll clog up in one place, i.e. your mind, and eventually flood it. If you don't open that box, you'll be stuck inside forever, watching time pass by. But if you do, you'll let the river flow seamlessly to the minds of others, and let the current initiate others' stream of thoughts. Some people did do this, and they were the ones to make discoveries and advance our knowledge, simply because their mind went beyond its boundaries. Look where that has landed us. We've reached a stage where there are millions of people pushing their boundaries outwards, trying to make a contribution. Many will argue that the less we know, the better. But unless we know, we cannot grow. Unless we break one boundary, we won't be able to create another one. Therefore, sometimes, it's okay to quench that thirst of ours. Sometimes, it's good to go beyond boundaries...